Commissioners press for budget fixes as risk‑pool premiums rise and emergency communications costs mount

County commissioners and staff spent extensive time reviewing departmental budget lines on Oct. 29 as officials sought to narrow projected shortfalls for fiscal 2026. Finance staff walked commissioners through revenues and actuals for multiple funds and identified several items that required follow‑up or reclassification.

A major concern raised during the budget discussion was a proposed increase from the county'wide insurance risk pool. Staff and attendees said counties at the risk pool meeting discussed options including a 35% increase to premiums — with higher options presented as well — and noted that a large premium jump would materially strain county finances. One county staffer described reaching a point where “we're gonna make a lot of difficult decisions unless we can find a lot more funding.”

Commissioners and staff also examined the 0.2 cent emergency communications sales tax fund (often cited as fund 1.61 in internal documents). Staff reported a September cash balance of about $2.84 million and year‑to‑date tax collections in the neighborhood of $1.54 million, but said the timing of revenues and potential increases in personnel costs or capital needs could erode year‑end carryover. Commissioners discussed building contingency capacity for unanticipated capital repairs and the implications of contract negotiations for dispatch staff on that fund.

Other budget items reviewed included increases in building rental requests at some leased sites, unexpectedly high professional service charges in several departments, and line‑by‑line edits proposed by department heads. Staff yellow‑tabbed items that required additional documentation (pension/retirement anomalies, invoicing allocations across funds, and certain capital outlay lines) and scheduled follow‑ups.

Why it matters: The combination of rising insurance costs and fixed or falling local revenues constrains the county's ability to fund services. Emergency communications funds and capital needs are of particular interest because those investments are tied to public safety and service continuity.

What happens next: Staff will return with further detail on flagged lines, follow up on risk pool options and obligations, and continue the budget hearing schedule with commissioner direction to search for cost savings and revenue options.